Protective mask



L. F. KEITH PROTECTIVE MASK July- 27, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug.14, 1963 LARRY F. KEITH A TTORNE Y5 L. F. KEITH PROTECTIVE MASK July 27,1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 14, 1965 INVHVTOR. LARRY F. KEH'H BYazdam AMAW A TTOE VEKS United States Patent C) 3,1%,458 PROTEtZTIVE MASKLarry F. Keith, 721 Cooper Drive, Charlotte, N.C. Fiied Aug. 14, 1963,Ser. No. 302,185 12 Claims. (til. 2-9) This invention relates toprotective masks for athletes and, more particularly, to an improvedprotective mask especially, although not exclusively, adapted for use byathletes engaging in the sport of baseball.

This application is a continuation-in-part of applicants co-pendingapplication Serial No. 106,302, filed April 28, 1961, now Patent No.3,132,345 and entitled Protective Mask Assembly. As is pointed out insaid co-pending application, while the usefulness of protective masks inpreventing painful and frequently disabling injuries to athletes hasbeen recognized for some time, the general usage of such masks has notbeen accepted in many sports, of which baseball is illustrative. Thisreluctance to accept the benefits afforded by protective masks is deemedlargely attributable to the means for maintaining such masks in positionupon the head of a wearer heretofore frequently having been of anunusual and cumbersome appearance and nature. As a consequence, wearersof such masks have frequently possessed unconventional, if notgrotesque, appearances, and the procedures for donning and dofiing suchmasks have been awkward and time consuming. Consequently, the use ofprotective masks and the benefits which might be afforded thereby haveall too frequently been foregone.

A primary object of this invention, as with the invention of applicantsaforesaid co-pending application, is the provision of a protective maskfree from the foregoing disadvantages and deficiencies in that it doesnot distract from the appearance or comfort of the wearer and may bedonned and dotfed with speed and facility, and which I of a protectivemask of the type described which requires no supporting straps orsimilar head-encircling members of any kind to maintain the samesecurely in place upon the head of a wearer. There being no such strapsor similar members to fasten and unfasten or to distract from either theappearance or comfort of the wearer, the

mask is capable of being quickly and easily donned and doffed and, whenworn, is lighter, less noticeable and more comfortable than masksheretofore employed.

Another related and more specific object is the provision of a mask ofthe type described in which the means maintaining the same in place uponthe head of a wearer is largely self-adjusting, such that a single maskis capable of being quickly donned and worn by any one of a number ofwearers with widely varying head sizes. This feature is deemedespecially desirable in relation to the sport of baseball since itobviates the necessity for each player to keep track of a particularmask during those times when his team is in the dugout and the masks arenot being worn. It is also highly desirable in the case of amateur orlittle-league baseball, since it permits the interchange of a limitednumber of masks between the players of the opposing teams withoutcausing any delay in the progress of the game.

' Another object is the provision of a mask of the type 3,196,458Patented July 27, 1965 described which is capable of being quickly andeasily modified in accordance with the wishes of a particular wearer soas to afford or not afford protection for his eyes and throat, as wellas for that area of his face lying therebetween. The mask of the instantinvention provides simple yet highly effective protection for the eyesand throat, as well as for that area of the face lying therebetween, forthose wearers who desire to avail themselves of such additionalprotection. On the other hand, the structure affording this additionalprotection is so constructed and arranged as to be capable of quickdisconnection and removal from the remainder of the mask by thosewearers who do not desire the additional protection, but who wish tostill avail themselves of the basic facial protection afforded by themask.

Still other objects and advantages will be in part evident and in partpointed out hereinafter in the following description of an illustrativeembodiment of the invention, which should be read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURES 1 and 2 are, respectively, side and front views of a protectivemask embodying the invention in place upon the head of a wearer;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are, respectively, perspective and rear views of themask, but with the additional eye and throat protecting membersdisconnected and not shown; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, partially exploded, perspective, fragmentaryview of one side of the mask, illustrating certain details ofconstruction.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the protective mask thereshown consists generally of a frontal portion 10, side portions 12, 12',optional ear hooks 14, 14, and optional eye and throat protectingmembers 16, 18, respectively. Frontal portion 10 and side portions 12,12 of the mask are formed of stiff, non-shattering material capable ofwithstanding and dissipating shocks and blows to which it might besubjected as, for example, when struck by a baseball. The materialshould also be relatively light in weight, and capable of being readilyformed to a desired shape. One preferred material possessing thesedesired characteristics is the plastic commonly known as Plexiglas, butothers might also be employed.

Frontal portion 10 of the protective mask is adapted to overlie andshield a substantial area of the face of the wearer, and is thus shapedand dimensioned so as to generally possess and comfortably conform to anaverage facial contour. Side edges 20, 20' of frontal portion 10 extendsubstantially vertically in overlying, adjacent relationship to thecheeks of the wearer of the mask. Lower edge 22 of frontal portion 10lies slightly below and generally follows the jaw line of the wearer.Upper edge 24 of the frontal portion of the mask is sinuously curved,extending symmetrically downwardly from a central point in spaced,adjacent relationship to the bridge of the nose of the wearer tolowermost points beneath the eyes of the wearer, and then upwardly againat its opposite ends to merge with side edges 20, 20. In order todeflect blows or objects, such as baseballs, striking thereagainst awayfrom the eyes of a wearer of the mask, upper edge 24 is also curved orflared outwardly away from the face of the wearer along at least themedial section of its length, for example and as shown, between thelowermost points of its heretofore described sinuous contour.Intermediate its side edges 20, 20, frontal portion 10 is generallyconvexedly curved, and is provided with a plurality of apertures 26which provide ventilation and also serve to reduce the weight of themask. Resilient padding 27 such as foam rubber is adhesively secured tothe entire inner surface of frontal portion and serves to render themask more com-' fortable to the wearer, while also serving to absorb anddissipate shocks and blows imparted to the mask. 7 It will be apparentthat when the protective mask is in place upon the head of a wearer,frontal portion 10 thereof overlies and shields that substantial areaofthe face f extending from approximately the bridge of the nose to thechin andfrom cheek to cheek. Additionaloption pro tection for the eyesand, throat of the wearer-of the mask,

are provided by eye and throat protecting members 16, 18, respectively.Referring no'w to FIGURES 1, 2 and 5,

eye protecting member lfi-con-sists of a substantiallyrigid rod havingan elongate, curved central section 28 terminat-' ing at its oppositeends in integral downwardly and righttion--identified in the case-of'leg30 by the numeral 32 thereon, are adapted to be closely received withinsleeves 34, 34' permanently sunk within bores provided in'upper' edge 24of frontal portion 10 adjacent opposite ends there- .of. When thelowermost end. portions of legs 30, 30' are 4 adhesively secured totheir inner surfaces. The length or height of side portions 12, 12' ispreferably approximately thesame as the length of side edges 20, 26' offrontal portion 10. The width of side portions 12, 12 is preferably suchthat they terminateshort or the ears of the wearer of the-mask, H V Thepivotal or hinged connection between side portion 12 and frontal portion'10 of the mask is best shown in FIGURE 5, to which reference is nowmade, it being understood that side portion 12' is similarly connectedto the opposite side of the frontal portion; As shown, forwardmostedgedoof side portion 12 and side edge of frontalportionlfl are .eachprovided-with a plurality of integrallyformed hinged knuckles 48 which,when interdigitated, receive and are permanently connected together ;byan elongate pivot or hinge pin 50. Pin 5i) also passes through biasingmeans inthe form of coil springs 52,54 disposed between' adjacentknuckles 58 of side portion 12 and frontal portionfltl, and the oppositeen-dsof which bear against the outer surfaces of side portion 12 andfrontal portion 1%) (see FIGURE 1). V

thus 'receivedwithin sleeyes34, 314', central section 28 of eyeprotecting member 16 extends horizontally-in spaced, substantialvertical alinement with upper edge 24- 'of frontal portion 10. Thelength of legs 3%, is su ch th atcen tral section 28 is dis-posedsufliciently far above the eyes-of the wearer of the mask as to notobstruct or interfere with his vision, yet sufficiently close to upperedge 24 as to cooperate therewith in preventing a baseball orany objectof comparable size from striking the eyes of the wearer. The

friction or -jam fit between sleeves34, 34' and the legs 30, v T

30' received therein is sufficiently snug by reason of the crimps orprojections upon the latter asto'prohibit aeci dental disengagement ofeye protecting member 16 from frontal portion 10 of the mask. 1 Shoulda'particular wearer of the mask not desire'the additional protectionafforded".

by member 16, however, the latter can be readily discon ..nected andremoved from frontal portion 1'0 merely'by pulling upwardly on legs 30,30' ,and thereby removing the same from the sleeves 34, 34'. Thesubsequent re-insertion of legs 30, 39 within sleeves 34, 34', so as tore-connect eye protecting member 16' to frontal portion 10, canobviously be accomplished with equal speed and facility.-

Throat protecting member 18 is constructed and mounted in substantiallythe same manner as eye protecting member 16.. Thus, member 18 isal-so-ofsubstantially rigid, rod-like construction and includes a centralsection The eifect of the above'described connection between sideportion 12 and frontal portionli) is that while side portion 12 ispivotable about the substantially vertical axis of pin 56 toward andawayfrom side portion 12' of the ,mask and the face of thewearerdi-sposed therebetween when the mask is being;worn,"jsprings 52,54 resiliently urge or bias side portion 12 with considerable forceinwardly toward side portion 127 ofthe mask and the face of the wearer.Similarly, the'identically' mounted side portion712' of the maskis'resiliently urged 0r biased inwardly with considerable force. towardside-portion 12 and the other side-of the faceof'the wearer of the mask.The clamping engagementthus realized between side portions 12, 1 2 andthat area of thetem-ples and cheeks of the wearer which they ove'rlieandshield is, in most instances, adequate by itself to securely maintainthe mask in position uponth-e head ofa wearer without the additional.assi'stance 'of any straps or; other supporting members whatsoeven;Thus, in the usual case it is contemplated that a person wishing to donthe mask need only pivot side portions12, 12' outwardly awayfrorneachother 7 against thebias of springs .52, 54, 52', 54'while positioningfrontal portion 10 in'the overlying'relations'hip to his ;face shown in'FIGURES 1 and 2. When frontal portion 'then maintained-by thisclampingengagement securely in case of leg 38 -by the-numeral, and areadaptedwho i received and maintained by a jam or friction fit within.

sleeves 42, 42' permanently sunk within bores in lower edge 22of-frontal portion mot the mask. When legs 38,

from lower edge 22 of frontal portion 10 and cooperatestherewith,inpreventinga baseball or other object of cornparable sizefrom striking the throat of a wearer of the.

mask. -As with eye protecting member 16,'throat protecting member 18 canobviously be quickly and easilyconnected to or disconnected from frontalportion 10 'of-the pivotally or hingedly connectedto side edges 20, 20'of frontal/portion 10 and; are adapted to extend generally 7 .rearwardlytherefrom toward the ears of the wearerof the 38' of member 18 are thusreceived within sleeves 42, 42, central section 36 of member 18 dependsdownwardly mask, overlying andshielding areas of the cheeks andtemples.Side portions lZ, 12f are eachof substantially flat, V rhomboidal shape,and arepref'erably-in keeping with frontal portion 10 pr-ovided withventilating and weight reducing apertures '44, 44'andwith resilientpadding 27 position upon the head of the wearer until such time as itsremoval isdesired, which removal or dofiing is effected withfequalfacility merely by again pivoting side portions 12, 12' outwardly whilemoving the entiremask'bodily in a forwarddirection awayfromthe face.

' EWhile it is contemplated that side portions 12, 12.of

- the mask will usually constitutethe only means for maintaming the samein place upon the'head of a wearer,

additional optional means is provided for this purpose forthe benefit'ofthose 'wearerswho. might desire to avail themselvesof it. Suchadditional optional means in- 'cludes the ear hooks 14, 14* hereinbeforenoted." Since rod 56. The forward-most end portion of rod-'56is'received within a mating, internally "threaded sleeve 58'permanentlyi'mounted within a bore extending through rear- 1 mostedge60 of'sidepo'rtion12 adjacent itsupperend.

Adjustmentof the distancebet ween .ear hook 14 and side portlon llforthepurpose of accurately positioning the hook n comfortable engagementwith the ear of a particular wearer of the mask is readily accomplishedmerely by rotating hook 14 and its fixedly connected rod 56 about theaxis of the latter, thus causing the forward-most end portion of rod 56to be received to a greater or lesser-depending upon the direction ofrotation-extent within threaded sleeve 58. Similarly, by merelycontinuing such rotative movement in the appropriate direction until theforward-most end portion of rod 56 is completely disengaged from sleeve58, ear book 14 and rod 56 may be completely disconnected from theremainder of the mask.

When connected to the remainder of the mask, it will 'be apparent thatcar hooks 14, 14 assist the side poremployed.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided a pro- .tective maskrealizing the objects and possessing the benefits hereinbefore noted,together with many practical advantages. The mask hereinbefore shown anddescribed as a preferred embodiment of the invention is lightweight,

comfortable, non-distracting to a wearer, and of economical manufacture.It does not cause a wearer to possess a grotesque or highlyunconventional appearance. It affords individual wearers wide freedom ofchoice in selecting the particular protection deemed necessary ordesirable. Most importantly, it is capable of being donned and doffedwith marked speed and facility, particularly when side portions 12, 12constitute the only means then employed for maintaining the mask inplace upon the head of the wearer, but also when optional ear hooks 14,14' are additionally utilized. When side portions 12, 12 constitute theonly supporting means employed, the mask is self-adjusting so as toautomatically properly fit any one of a number of wearers with widelyvarying head sizes, since the side portions will be automaticallypivoted inwardly to a greater extent to fit narrower heads and to alesser extent to fit wider heads. Even when ear hooks 14, 14' areadditionally employed, the mask is largely self-adjusting since thehooks are carried by and movable with side portions 12, 12. Moreover, ifin the latter case additional adjustment of ear hooks 14, 14' should bedesirable, this can be quickly and easily accomplished by reason oftheir heretofore described connection with side portions 12, 12'.

While a specific protective mask has been hereinbefore shown anddescribed, this was for purposes of illustration only, and not forpurposes of limitation, since numerous modifications and differentembodiments within the scope of the invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art. For example, only one of the side portions might bemovable toward and away from the other, rather than both being movable.The scope of the invention should therefore be construed only inaccordance with the following claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. A protective mask adapted to be worn on the head of a wearer andcomprising a frontal portion formed of stiff non-shattering materialadapted to overlie and shield a substantial area of the face of thewearer, means connected to and extending rearwardly from said frontalportion generally toward and terminating short of the ears of the wearerfor clamping the mask to the head of the wearer, said clamping meansincluding a pair of side portions formed of stiff non-shatteringmaterial, said side portions being pivotally connected to and extendingrearwardly from said frontal portion generally towafd and terminatingshort of the ears of the wearer, and spring means biasing said sideportions toward each other and into clamping engagement with the head ofthe wearer.

2. A protective mask adapted to be worn on the head of a wearer andcomprising a frontal portion formed of stiff non-shattering materialadapted to overlie and shield a substantial area of the face of thewearer, an eye pro tecting member and a throat protecting memberdetachably connected to and carried by said frontal portion, and meansconnected to and extending rearwardly from said frontal portiongenerally toward and terminating short of the ears of the wearer forclamping the mask to the head of the wearer.

3. A protective mask as in claim 2, wherein said clamping means includesa pair of side portions formed of stiff non-shattering materialconnected to and extending rearwardly from said frontal portion towardand terminating short of the ears of the wearer, at least one of saidside portions being movable relative to said frontal portion toward andaway from the other of said side portions, and said one side portionbeing biased toward said other side portion and into clamping engagementwith the head of the wearer.

4. A protective mask as in claim 2, and further including hook membersconnected to and disposed rearwardly of said clamping means, said hookmembers being adapted to fit about the ears of the wearer and therebyassist in securing the mask to the head of the wearer.

5. A protective mask adapted to be worn on the head of a wearer andcomprising a frontal portion formed of stiff non-shattering materialadapted to overlie and shield a substantial area of the face of thewearer, a pair of side portions formed of stiff non-shattering materialconnected to and extending rearwardly from said frontal portion alongopposite sides of the head of the wearer, at least one of said sideportions being movable relative to said frontal portion toward and awayfrom the other of said side portions, and resilient means biasing saidone side portion toward said other side portion and into clampingengagement with the head of the wearer therebetween for clamping themask to the head of the wearer, said resilient means comprising at leastone spring engaging said one side portion and said frontal portion.

6. A protective mask adapted to be worn on the head of a wearer andcomprising a frontal portion formed of stiff non-shattering materialadapted to overlie and shield a substantial area of the face of thewearer, an eye pro tecting member and a throat protecting memberdetachably connected to and carried by said frontal portion, a pair ofside portions connected to and extending rear- Wardly from said frontalportion along opposite sides of the head of the wearer, at least one ofsaid side portions being movable relative to said frontal portion towardand away from the other of said side portions, and resilient meansbiasing said one side portion toward said other side portion and intoclamping engagement with the head of the wearer therebetween forclamping the mask to the head of the wearer.

'7. A protective mask as in claim 5, and further including a pair ofhook members connected to and disposed rearwardly of said side portions,said hook members being adapted to fit about the ears of the wearer andthereby assist in securing the mask to the head of the wearer.

8. A protective mask adapted to be worn on the head of a wearer andcomprising a frontal portion formed of stiff non-shattering materialadapted to overlie and shield that area of the face of the wearerextending from approximately the bridge of the nose to the chin and fromcheek to cheek, a pair of side portions extending generally rearwardlyfrom said frontal portion and being pivotally connected thereto forpivotal movement toward and away from each other, said side portionsbeing formed of stiff non-shattering material and being adapted tooverlie and shield parts of the cheeks and temples of the wearer, andresilient means biasing said side portions toward each other and intoclamping engagement with said parts "of the cheeks and temples of thewearer for clamping the,

mask to the head of the wearer.-

9. A protective mask as in claim 8, wherein saijdside portions are ofsubstantially flat rhomboidal .shape,',and

further including resilient padding material adhesively secured to thesurfaceslof said side and frontalportions adjacent the'head of thewearer.

10. A protective mask as in claim 8, andfurtherineluding a pair of hookmembers, and means adjustably and detachably connecting said hookmembers to said side portions, said hook'members'when connected vto saidshield a substantial area of the face of the user, said frontal portionhaving a pair'of side edges and an upper edge and ,a lower edge, saidside edges 'of said tfrontal portion being adapted to extendsubstantially'vertieally adjacent thecheeks of the wearer andsaidfrontal portion said side edges thereof from a central pointadjacent the bridge of thenose of the wearer downwardly to lowera i sideedgesand an uppermost edge and a lowermost edge, ,a plurality of hingejknuckles formed integral with said side edges of said frontal portionvand said forwardmost side edges of said side portions, a pair of hingepin mem-v bers eXtending'through said hinge knuckles and tpivotallyconnecting said side portions'to, said frontal portion for a pivotalmovement of said sideportions-toward and away side portions beingadapted to fit about the ears of the Y within said' bores, a pair ofear-hook members,'a pair from each other-and said parts of the cheeksand temples of the wearer, coil spring means disposed about said hingepin members and biasing said side portions toward each other. and intoclamping engagement with said parts of the cheeks .and temples of the,wearer for clamping the mask tofthe head'of the wearer, said rearmostside edges of said side portions each having a bore extending therethrough, internally threaded sleeve members "mounted of elongatethreaded rod members securedv to said hook 'members and adapted to vbereceived within said sleeve on the head i members for adjustably anddetachably connecting said hook members to said side portions, saidear-hook'members when, connected to said side portions' 'bei'ng adaptedto fitabout the, ears ofithe wearer and thereby assist in securing themask to the head of' the wearer, a substan- *-tially ri'gid rodlikeeyefprotecting member detachably connected' to 'and extendinggenerally above said upper edge 'of said frontal portion, and'asubstantiallyrigid being convexedly curved .,therebe tween,'said upperedge of ,7 said frontal portion being symmetrically curved betweenmostpoints beneath the eyes of the wearer and the medial length of saidupper edge being flared outwardly'away' from the'face of the wearer,said lower edge of said frontal portion extending between said sideedges thereof adjacent the jaw of the wearer, apair of side portionsformed of stiff, non-shattering plastic material adapted to overlie andshield parts of the cheeks and temples of the wearer, said side portionseach being of substantially fiat rhomboidal shape and having forwardmostand rearmost rod-likej throat, protecting member ,detachably connected 7to and extending generally below said lower edge of rental portion; V s

x mamas Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS ,5/37 Titus.3,103,667 9/63 Rogowski.=

FOREIGN PATENTS l 85 1902 Great Britain.

' 40 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner; f

1. A PROTECTIVE MASK ADAPTED TO BE WORN ON THE HEAD OF A WEARER ANDCOMPRISING A FRONTAL PORTION FORMED OF STIFF NON-SHATTERING MATERIALADAPTED TO OVERLIE AND SHIELD A SUBSTANTIAL AREA OF THE FACE OF THEWEARER, MEANS CONNECTED TO AND EXTENDING REARWARDLY FROM SAID FRONTALPORTION GENERALLY TOWARD AND TERMINATING SHORT OF THE EARS OF THE WEARERFOR CLAMPING THE MASK TO THE HEAD OF THE WEARER, SAID CLAMPING THE MASKTO THE HEAD SIDE PORTIONS FORMED OF STIFF NON-SHATTERING MATERIAL, SAIDSIDE PORTIONS BEING PIVITALLY CONNECTED TO AND EXTENDING REARWARDLY FROMSAID FRONTAL PORTION GENERALLY TOWARD AND TERMINATING SHORT OF THE EARSOF THE WEARER, AND SPRING MEANS BIASING SAID SIDE PORTIONS TOWARD EACHOTHER AND INTO CLAMPING ENGAGERMENT WITH THE HEAD OF THE WEARER.